Castro recovered from his own major gastrointestinal surgery. At the time,
false reports pronounced him dead or dying. They were little more than
wishful thinking.

Dark forces wanted him eliminated for decades. Even in semi-retirement
they want him gone. He recovered well. It took time. It generally does
for people in their 80s.

In August, he turned 86. Hopefully he has many productive years ahead.
His intellect remains acute. His perceptiveness is keen.

His knowledge of vital issues is impressive. His honesty and integrity
are impeccable. His forthrightness is noteworthy. He and Chavez mean so
much to so many.

At 58, Chavez is younger. Hopefully his age and inner strength will bring
full recovery.

On December 12, Vice President Nicolas Maduro said it began after undergoing
six hours of successful surgery. He called the operation "complex."

He said "special treatments" are needed. The post-operative process will
be "complicated and difficult," he added.

Chavez is getting the finest care at Havana's Medical Surgical Research
Center (CIMEQ). He's in good hands. It's Cuba's best equipped hospital.
It provides world-class treatment.

Addressing Venezuelans on national television and radio, Maduro said,
"We are talking until dawn about the details of President Chavez's operation.

On December 12, Vice President Rafael Ramirez and National Assembly President
Diosdado Cabello returned home from Cuba.

Minister of Science and Technology Jorge Arreaza and Attorney General
Cilia Flores remained in Havana. Together with Fidel and Raul Castro,
they're monitoring Chavez's condition.

Maduro said surgery "was complicated, difficult and delicate, which tells
us that the post-operative process is going to be complicated and difficult."

"We shall be in regular contact with the medical teams, always with the
objectivity which must guide the management of this situation."

He added that before leaving for Cuba, Chavez called on Venezuelans "to
be serenely prepared to confront these hard, complicated and difficult
days which it has befallen us to experience, and they can only be confronted
with the unity of the people, the political and social forces of the revolution,
and men and women in the street."

He urged opposition elements to halt their speculation, lies and vitriol.
Referring to Sunday's gubernatorial and legislative elections, Maduro
said Venezuelans "are more united than ever spiritually and politically
in loyalty to Chavez and our people."

During surgery, internal bleeding occurred. It was corrected. Mayo Clinic
cancer expert, Dr. Julian Molina, said it's not unusual when surgery to
remove malignant tissue occurs multiple times in the same place.

On Thursday, Chavez improved. Maduro said his condition changed from "stable
to favorable."

"That allows us to continue saying that there is growing recovery in (his)
situation," he added. Prayer vigils continue for his recovery. Uncertainty
prevails. Venezuelans hope for the best.

Proper care, love, inner strength, and time are nature's best healers.
Hopefully in combination they'll restore Chavez to full health.

Venezuelan television aired video opening with him saying "I am no longer
myself. I am the people." Venezuelans of all ages followed, adding "I
am Chavez."

Other programming showed him singing folk songs with supporters and reciting
poetry. Venezuelans express justifiable concerns. They pray. They hope
for the best. In the fullness of time they'll know.

Chavista politician/academic Aristobulo Isturiz said "as we pray, we should
be ready to turn our sadness and pain into a force that can mobilize the
people."

It's unclear if Chavez can return for his January 10 inauguration. Constitutional
law requires new elections if he's not back within 30 days.

Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said Venezuelans "should be prepared
to understand" whatever happens. "It would be irresponsible to hide the
delicacy of the present moment and the days to come."

It's unconscionable not to pray for his full recovery. He's too important
to lose. More than Venezuela is at stake.

On December 12, the Havana Times headlined "Chavez's Future Means Unknowns
for Cuba," saying:

The future of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA)
without Chavez hangs in the balance. Founded in 2004, it grew to eight
countries.

Before leaving for Cuba, Chavez acknowledged his risks. In case anything
happens, he named Vice President Nicolas Maduro his preferred successor.
He urged Venezuelans to choose him if new elections are necessary.

Some observers believe National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello may
challenge him. He's a longtime close Chavez ally.

It's thought his influence within Venezuela's military exceeds Maduro's
support. Whether or not a power struggle emerges remains to be seen.

Hopefully Chavez will recover enough to return for his inauguration. Doing
so would end speculation provided he regains full health.

At the same time, another president is possible. Cuba relies on ALBA trade
relations. Losing it would replicate the post-Soviet "Special Period."
Crisis conditions followed. Havana hopes that won't repeat.

Levy believes "With or without Chavez, Cuba will have to deepen its transition
to a mixed economy and open itself up to foreign capital."

With it come huge risks. In his book titled "Rulers and Ruled in the US
Empire," James Petras exposed six myths of direct foreign investment (FI).

(1) It doesn't create new enterprises and market opportunities. It buys
privatized and other enterprises. It crowds out local capital and public
initiative.

(2) It doesn't enhance export effectiveness. It buys minerals and other
resources for export. It doesn't create jobs or stimulate national economies.

(3) It doesn't provide tax revenue and hard currency. It creates more
indebtedness and net loss than gain.

Ramirez's practice includes general medicine and gastroenterology. He,
opthamologist Earle Siso Garcia, and trauma surgeon Rafael Vargas accused
Navarrete of "daring to make diagnoses and prognoses without the necessary
medical information, which we reiterate is completely unknown to him."

Ramirez said he "does not have, nor has he had any scientific information
in order to be able to talk about the health of president Chavez, not
even about the type of cancer he endured."

He may have had informal contact with him, but "it was never a physician-patient
relationship. There is no truth to (his) comment."

A joint press conference statement on live television added that Navarrete
"has not been President Chavez's physician, nor the family doctor of any
of the President's relatives."

His comments were uncalled for. They violated medical ethics. They lack
"scientific grounding." They're based on "an alleged medical examination
in which Navarrete never took part."

Fourteen months later, Chavez underwent his fourth cancer surgery in 18
months for the same illness. Recovery chances at best are daunting.

Hopefully they'll prove good. The fullness of time will have final say.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book is titled "Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge
discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour
on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and
Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.